After ten years in the field, Board Certified Behavior Analysts (BCBA®s) throughout Florida’s seven largest cities earned an average of $59,079, enjoying an annual incremental salary increase of more than $1000 each year. In addition, the median bonus paid to BCBA®s in Florida was $976 a year as of 2016.
Fort Lauderdale, in particular, is a leader among cities in Florida in terms of compensation for applied behavior analysts:
- Highest median starting salary
- Highest median salary for experienced ABAs
- Highest average salary increase during the first decade of employment
Florida Statutes Now Require Insurance to Cover Therapy for Individuals with ASD
Effective 2008, Florida Statutes mandate that insurance companies cover the cost of behavioral therapy for individuals with developmental disabilities including autism spectrum disorder (ASD). The statute specifies that the supervisors of clinical directors of such programs hold a doctorate degree with a primary focus in behavior analysis. In addition, the staff must include certified BCBA®s in order for the treatment to be covered.
Florida’s mandate that insurance cover treatment services for individuals with ASD made it feasible for ABAs to operate in the private sector and has created new opportunities for independent practitioners. The nonprofit advocacy organization Autism Speaks® identified 322 providers who treat autism in Florida as of November 2016.
Salaries for Experienced Board Certified Behavior Analysts in Florida’s Largest Cities
Shown below are the salary figures for applied behavior analysts with ten years of experience in the largest cities in Florida by sector. Each list provides the overall salary range (from median to 90th percentile) for each city, followed by the median salary for a number of employment sectors (November 2016):
Jacksonville – $58,203 – $76,000
- Companies – $61,624
- Government – $60,108
- Private Practice – $59,323
- Non-profits – $58,087
- School Districts – $57,432
Miami – $58,817 – $79,000
- Government – $64,720
- Private Practice – $62,655
- Companies – $62,644
- Non-profits – $62,583
- School Districts – $61,731
Tampa – $60,725 – $79,000
- Companies – $64,615
- Private Practice – $62,594
- School Districts – $61,040
- Government – $59,880
- Non-profits – $58,570
St. Petersburg – $57,312 – $74,000
- Companies – $62,304
- Private Practice – $59,384
- School Districts – $58,702
- Governments – $58,330
- Non-profits – $57,000
Orlando – $61,414- $81,000
- Private Practice – $63,217
- Government – $62,928
- Companies – $62,436
- Non-profits – $60,530
- School Districts – $59,900
Tallahassee – $52,237 – $70,000
- Private Practice – $58,052
- Companies – $56,855
- Government – $55,853
- Non-profits – $52,830
- School Districts – 45,754
Fort Lauderdale – $64,482 – $85,000
- Government – $66,430
- Private Practice – $65,071
- School Districts – $63,571
- Companies – $63,328
- Non-profits – $60,987
Entry-Level Salaries for Board Certified Behavior Analysts in Florida’s Largest Cities
Shown below are the entry-level salary figures for behavior analysts in the largest cities in Florida by sector. Each list provides the overall salary range (from median to 90th percentile) for each city, followed by the median salary for a number of employment sectors (November 2016):
Jacksonville – $48,220 – $63,000
- Private Practice – $50,193
- Government – $49,787
- Companies – $49,297
- School Districts – $49,214
- Non-profits – $47,556
Miami – $50,513 – $68,000
- Government – $52,894
- Private Practice – $52,630
- Companies – $52,452
- School Districts – $52,248
- Non-profits – $48,036
Tampa – $48,453 – $63,000
- Companies – $52,253
- Government – $50,282
- Non-profits – $49,690
- School Districts – $48,890
- Private Practice – $47,673
St. Petersburg – $47,223 – $61,000
- Companies – $49,679
- Government – $49,342
- Private Practice – $47,985
- Non-profits – $47,251
- School Districts – $46,415
Orlando – $49,136 – $65,000
- Companies – $51,561
- Government – $50,676
- Non-profits – $49,190
- School Districts – $48,297
- Private Practice – $47,900
Tallahassee – $42,722 – $57,000
- Companies – $45,814
- Government – $45,092
- Private Practice – $44,990
- Non-profits – $44,031
- School Districts – $43,994
Fort Lauderdale – $51,502 – $68,000
- Companies – $54,103
- Government – $53,348
- Private Practice – $51,186
- School Districts – $51,108
- Non-profits – $49,223
PayScale.com provides detailed information on what applied behavior analysts in various employment settings and with various levels of experience can expect to earn in Florida.